Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1A 2AH
3
From The Minister of State
The Rt Hon The Lord Goronwy-Roberts
Colonel Montgomery
HONG KONG: ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
፡
4 January 1978
HRX 34/!
ROEK
No
• LE
12 JAA
35
TRY
сба
During our discussions on 7 December I promised to obtain information concerning illegal immigration from China to Hong Kong. The Hong Kong authorities have now sent details and I am writing to pass on the information that you asked for.
The latest available figures show that 1,678 illegal immigrants have been repatriated to China in 1977 so far, although 25,000 people have been granted exit visas from China to come to Hong Kong and have been legally admitted. The Hong Kong authorities add that for every illegal immigrant arrested at least four escape detection and that these are always granted permission to stay if they apply for it later.
You asked about the criteria which immigration officials use to decide whether or not to permit an illegal immigrant to stay. I know that you will appreciate that I cannot release information which, if it became public knowledge, might jeopardize the informal Hong Kong/Chinese agreement or which might allow illegal immigrants to make up a more convincing case than would be justified by their circumstances. I have, however, looked into this again and I am satisfied that, where there are strong humanitarian or political grounds, or where an illegal immigrant would face physical danger if he or she were repatriated, permission to stay in Hong Kong is granted.
/on the
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.